MERKEL'S VISIT TO TURKEY

German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid official visits to Turkey.

Received by the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, Governor of Ankara Kemal Onal, and other authorities; Merkel met the President Abdullah Gul, the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis.

During her visit in Ankara, Merkel and the German delegation firstly visited Anitkabir and they were accompanied by Minister Bagis.

Later on, Merkel met Minister Bagis and she was received by the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the same day.

At the joint press conference held after the meeting the Prime Minister Erdogan welcomed the bilateral high-level visits and stated that they attached great importance to improving the relations between Turkey and Germany. Stating that with Merkel, they also discussed the issues concerning the Turkish citizens living in Germany and their integration to the German society; the Prime Minister Erdogan said: "We shared views and discussed that both sides should bear important responsibilities for the integration of our citizens to the German society by also maintaining their own cultures."

After that meeting, Merkel was received by the President Abdullah Gul and they talked out the integration process and bilateral relations.

Source: AA